Series on King David - November 28, 2010 - Psalm 41, 56 and 32:7
“You are my hiding place” (32:7)
1. When you were little, did you have a hiding place? What circumstances led you to go there?
2. So much of the account of King David’s life in First and Second Samuel depicts him in trouble. God helps David by hiding him from his enemies and protects him in danger. In what ways have you been protected in your life?
3. In Psalm 41:1-3, what is promised? How does such a promise sustain a person going through trials?
4. Read 41:1-12. What one word describes your life in relation to God’s promises: Incongruity? Integrity? Blessed? Illustrate with an experience from this past month.
5. Read Psalm 56. Delays and suffering build character in David. What have you learned from these factors in your life? What does it mean that God records your lament and lists your tears? ( v. 8 )
6. In Psalm 32:7, David says to God, “You are my hiding place.” End this time with praying to God, “I thank you, my God, for you are my hiding place.
Next week’s study will be on “Knowing and loving the Creator and His Creation – Psalms 8, 9 and 29.”
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David – God’s Choice
To be chosen by God is an awesome thing. It may be realized at the least likely moment and it may take decades to be fulfilled, but God has His reasons and He works them out perfectly.
The call comes early in David’s life and its fulfillment comes many years later. So much time takes place in the waiting. We often question the time spent waiting in our own lives, but we need to look at it in a new way. For the situation of the kingship in Israel, changes had to take place, and David had to mature in order to fit into the circumstances. There are long periods of waiting but with God nothing is wasted.
In one sense or another, you are currently in God’s waiting room. Everything you are now going through is to prepare you for what comes next. Of course, there are delays and even disappointments. Ask God “where are you in the waiting, and what are you calling me to do?”
When God moves, He is very fast. There will be many twists and turns, but He is leading you and you will succeed only as you trust Him.
I look forward to learning together during this study series on King David.
Your brother in Christ,
Christopher
The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton
Rector
On the Mark - November 28th
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Reasons why this holiday is worth celebrating:
• Thanksgiving started in our land as an opportunity for citizens to thank God. When our children were taught in the public school that the holiday was memorializing “the fact” that the pilgrims were thanking the Indians, I protested, and proved from the pilgrims’ own writings that they thanked God!
• Thanksgiving brings people together. Families and individuals come together to thank God and to enjoy one another. We will be having a worship service here with St. Luke’s Parish Darien, on Wednesday, November 24 at 7:00 p.m. Come for fellowship and refreshments at 6:30 p.m.
• Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to count our blessings and to share with those who are less fortunate than we are. Thank you for your response to help restock the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County in Stamford and Person-to-Person in Darien.
• Thanksgiving provides us with the time to reflect and pray. Be sure to take advantage of the time off from your normally busy schedule to “be still and know that God is God.” At this holiday season we need to think about our country and how far we seem to be from God. It is a duty and privilege for Christians to pray for our nation. It is appropriate that the appointed Scripture for this annual celebration is from Deuteronomy 8. The people of the Lord are warned not to forget God and His good provision; we are not to say “my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me”. The consequences of walking away from God are disastrous. Pray for our nation.
All in all, we have so much to be thankful for, and I thank God for you!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Christopher
The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton
Rector
On the Mark - November 21st
“O Lord, open thou our lips and our mouths shall show forth Thy praise.”
Janet and I grew up saying these words in our church services. They have always struck me as the combined effort of people and God in worship. We need God’s help and ask for it, and yet we pledge to give to God what He deserves: our praise.
Other versions bring out the subtleties of this thought. The Contemporary English Version says, “Help me to speak and I will praise you, Lord.” The New Living Translation reads, “Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.” Lastly, The Message declares, Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.”
When we are honest we know our need for help and when we are humble we ask for help. George Herbert, the 17th century parson and poet wrote,
“Thou hast given so much to me
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
Not thankful when it pleaseth me;
As if Thy blessings had spare days
But such a heart whose pulse
may be thy praise”
In those words is the secret of success - we become a people who show forth His praise not only with our lips but in our lives.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Christopher
The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton
Rector
On the Mark - November 14th
The Resurrection and Marriage
Introduction:
Were you a part of any debates in school? What were they about?
What’s the best wedding (or wedding reception) you’ve ever been to? Why?
What do you think heaven will be like?
Observation:
Who are the Sadducees? What did they believe?
What is the scenario they present to Jesus?
Where is the quote in v. 37 from?
Interpretation:
What do you think was the Sadducees’ motivation?
What does Jesus mean that there will be no “marrying or giving in marriage”? Does it mean “no marriage” or “no new marriages”?
How are those who “take part in that age” like angels?
How is God the God of the living?
Application:
What aspects of resurrection or the age to come are important for you to focus on?
Are there any aspects of Jesus’ teaching here or in other passages that you find difficult?
What does being a child of God mean to you? Who are those in your life that need to know God this way?
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How Do You Give Thanks?
How do you give thanks? Do you call someone on the phone? Do you text them or send an e-mail? Are you one who thanks in person or do you “drop a note:?
I remember my grandfather, who was a doctor, having many gifts in his home from “grateful patients”. Do you give gifts in gratitude?
Do you ever hesitate in giving thanks because you are not quite sure what to say or how to get your message across? I find myself needing to pray about how I might give thanks. I ask God to guide me and I ask for His favor so that I might truly bless the one for whom I’m grateful.
It is very encouraging to look at
St. Paul and to see how often he gives thanks in his letters. In the letter to the Philippians, Paul’s purpose in writing is to say thank you for that congregation’s gift to him. One outstanding verse is in Chapter 1: “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
That is a thought worth thinking some more about. During the month of November, we have the opportunity to search our hearts and to count our blessings. We would do well to give thanks to God and to be purposeful in thanking those who have blessed us.
Let’s give thanks together!
Christopher
The Rev. Christopher P. Leighton
Rector